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General Requirements for Candidacy

Candidates for public office in the City of San Diego must be citizens of the United States and at least 18 years of age. In order to run for Council office, a candidate must be a registered voter of the appropriate Council district for at least 30 days prior to the date of filing nomination papers, and a resident in and registered voter of the district at the time of assuming the office.

Per San Diego Municipal Code 27.0708, "If a vacancy occurs for any reason, and if redistricting has occurred between the date of the election of the officeholder and the date of the vacancy, the redistricting will have no effect on the boundaries used to determine who is eligible to fill the vacancy, either by appointment or special election. The boundaries used to fill the vacancy will be the same as those used in the original election, and all the following requirements shall be met:

A candidate for appointment or election will be a resident and voter from within the district boundaries as they existed prior to redistricting.

In order to be counted as valid, nominating signatures must come from voters registered within the district boundaries as they existed prior to redistricting.

A special election held to fill a vacancy will be held within the district boundaries as they existed prior to redistricting."

Candidates must appear in person in the City Clerk's Office during the nomination period in order to obtain nominating papers.

Candidate orientations are scheduled for specific times during the nomination period. Please contact the Elections Section at (619) 533-4015 to reserve a time for orientation. If reserving to attend evening orientation, a potential candidate must provide the Clerk the address where he/she is registered to vote no later than 12:00 p.m. the day of the orientation.

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All required papers must be filed at the same time, prior to the end of the nomination period. No candidate shall file nominating papers for more than one office at any election.